M3 LSD problem

M3 LSD problem

Author
Discussion

mb26

Original Poster:

219 posts

164 months

Friday 25th March 2016
quotequote all
Anyone had an E9x with a "lazy" LSD?
I just bought an otherwise lovely an AUC E90 M3 with 35k miles

There is s noticeable delay in the LSD locking in wet or dry conditions. It spins an inside wheel for a while then locks the diff.

I have had loads of M cars never had one that spins an inside wheel..

It's going into dealer but you can imagine how the conversation is going to go...they have no test for worn LSD..other than for me to demonstrate

I am thinking oil change?

Anyone had a similar experience and a solution that worked?

Thanks

Max Maxasson

415 posts

184 months

Friday 25th March 2016
quotequote all
You can try a diff oil change...use std Castrol syntrax.
Lots of owners and dealers use the BMWs version which includes extra friction modifier which can make the diff lazy.

mb26

Original Poster:

219 posts

164 months

Friday 25th March 2016
quotequote all
Thanks - will try that first

vsonix

3,858 posts

164 months

Friday 25th March 2016
quotequote all
If it's under warranty you might want to take it back before wasting money on a fluid change that mightn't fix it.

mb26

Original Poster:

219 posts

164 months

Saturday 26th March 2016
quotequote all
Changed oil today...when car off the ground it was pretty easy to hold one wheel and spin the other..... Anyway changed oil did 10 figure 8s, drove a few miles, booted it..still spinning one wheel.

Back to dealer now...Grrrr

mb26

Original Poster:

219 posts

164 months

Sunday 27th March 2016
quotequote all
Hmmm.. Dilemma.. Do I buy a used LSD from eBay and get back out, or wait a month or two and gamble on the BMW puma process allowing a worn diff to be replaced... I only keep my cars a year and to lose 10-20% while BMW faffs about is going to really annoy me...

Does anyone know if Matt Greig is still at BMW battersea?

thatsprettyshady

1,829 posts

166 months

Tuesday 29th March 2016
quotequote all
mb26 said:
Hmmm.. Dilemma.. Do I buy a used LSD from eBay and get back out, or wait a month or two and gamble on the BMW puma process allowing a worn diff to be replaced... I only keep my cars a year and to lose 10-20% while BMW faffs about is going to really annoy me...

Does anyone know if Matt Greig is still at BMW battersea?
Realistically how often are you going to be taking full advantage of the diff? I don't mean to come across as rude but surely if there's half a chance you'll get the diff sorted for free, it's got to be worth the wait? Parts and labour on a replacement diff is surely a fair chunk of cash, my old E46 M3 had the diff seals replaced and the bill was £800+

mb26

Original Poster:

219 posts

164 months

Tuesday 29th March 2016
quotequote all
thatsprettyshady said:
Realistically how often are you going to be taking full advantage of the diff? I don't mean to come across as rude but surely if there's half a chance you'll get the diff sorted for free, it's got to be worth the wait? Parts and labour on a replacement diff is surely a fair chunk of cash, my old E46 M3 had the diff seals replaced and the bill was £800+
Good question pretty shady and I will plead the 5th smile

However I have a day out booked near Bedford in a few weeks which will be ruined by an open diff - this puts some additional pressure on..

Based on my experience with BMW over the 335i wastegates fiasco, my confidence in BMW (Mondial) stumping up for a new diff anytime soon is low..they have no test for a worn LSD!! So I suspect they will come up with "it's not broken"..

then I will need to source a diff. There are a couple of used M3 Diffs on eBay right now.. not sure how often they come up,
- hence my dilemma...

Output Flange

16,804 posts

212 months

Tuesday 29th March 2016
quotequote all
Even if BMW do work out a test for a worn diff, it's going to come under "wear and tear" items like clutch friction surfaces, no?

Max Maxasson

415 posts

184 months

Tuesday 29th March 2016
quotequote all
I had my first E92 M3 for 60k miles - at a 10k mile service the dealer wanted to add the diff oil with extra friction modifier to cure a slight groan on right hand turns but I refused. The diff locked up great all the time I had it.
The diff in my newer one is not as good and I suspect that later cars came with the diff oil + extra FM as OEM.
In any case the diff is not the fastest locking up diff by any stretch of the imagination....but in the dry if you make a right hand turn say out of a t junction and floor it in first gear just before being fully straight you should get a decent power slide.
It would be unusually for the clutch pack in your diff to be worn out at 35k miles, these are very sturdy units - I don't think I've heard of diff that has had one worn out.

mb26

Original Poster:

219 posts

164 months

Tuesday 29th March 2016
quotequote all
Output Flange said:
Even if BMW do work out a test for a worn diff, it's going to come under "wear and tear" items like clutch friction surfaces, no?
You might be right ..but at 35000 miles and delivered as an AUC car should be in "spec" will be reliant on a deep understanding of the car dynamics and a little bit of good will from the dealer... It is also getting a new rear screen and sat nav system done on warranty...

mb26

Original Poster:

219 posts

164 months

Tuesday 29th March 2016
quotequote all
Max Maxasson said:
I had my first E92 M3 for 60k miles - at a 10k mile service the dealer wanted to add the diff oil with extra friction modifier to cure a slight groan on right hand turns but I refused. The diff locked up great all the time I had it.
The diff in my newer one is not as good and I suspect that later cars came with the diff oil + extra FM as OEM.
In any case the diff is not the fastest locking up diff by any stretch of the imagination....but in the dry if you make a right hand turn say out of a t junction and floor it in first gear just before being fully straight you should get a decent power slide.
It would be unusually for the clutch pack in your diff to be worn out at 35k miles, these are very sturdy units - I don't think I've heard of diff that has had one worn out.
Thanks. I guess it depends on how the 35000 miles were driven by the previous owner smile
In this car the inside wheel spins for about 30m then locks... Making smooth progress very difficult

According to a well known racer who had the same behaviour on an E46 m3 it was a pinion gear failing ...

Output Flange

16,804 posts

212 months

Tuesday 29th March 2016
quotequote all
mb26 said:
According to a well known racer who had the same behaviour on an E46 m3 it was a pinion gear failing ...
Can you explain the logic of that one?

mb26

Original Poster:

219 posts

164 months

Tuesday 29th March 2016
quotequote all
Output Flange said:
Can you explain the logic of that one?
Nope...maybe he is a better driver than mechanic..smile the advise was free and well intended though

thatsprettyshady

1,829 posts

166 months

Tuesday 29th March 2016
quotequote all
mb26 said:
Good question pretty shady and I will plead the 5th smile

However I have a day out booked near Bedford in a few weeks which will be ruined by an open diff - this puts some additional pressure on..

Based on my experience with BMW over the 335i wastegates fiasco, my confidence in BMW (Mondial) stumping up for a new diff anytime soon is low..they have no test for a worn LSD!! So I suspect they will come up with "it's not broken"..

then I will need to source a diff. There are a couple of used M3 Diffs on eBay right now.. not sure how often they come up,
- hence my dilemma...
Ah I agree I'd be peeved if I had a track day booked and had to deal with a failing and possibly unpredictable diff. But the AUC should look after you.

mb26

Original Poster:

219 posts

164 months

Monday 25th April 2016
quotequote all
Update - been a little too busy to get the car to a dealer until last week...
After 2 days they finally confirmed my diagnosis and are replacing the diff under warranty 😀

Well played Cooper BMW - restored my faith!!

Can't wait to get it back...